Singles champions crowned in Newark & District Double Board Darts Summer League after finals at RHP Sports & Social Club
Linda Brockson And Steven Barnett have secured their first ever singles titles after two terrific nights of darts action at RHP Sports & Social Club, which saw both players battle through to land their respective individual crowns in the Newark & District Double Board Darts Summer League.
Brockson began her route to the final with an opening 2-1 win over Caffs Ladies’ Eugene Hallam before the Wheatsheaf Wandering Misfits’ skipper clinched a semi-final spot as she overcame King’s Collaborators’ Heather Webb 2-0 in her quarter-final.
Brockson took the first leg of her semi-final match against Falcoholics’ Sam Rawle only for her opponent to level but she was not to be denied a place in her first singles final as she took the deciding leg to edge home 2-1.
Her opponent in the final was perennial winner Linda Gregory who was looking for a remarkable eighth summer league singles title on a trot.
The reigning champion opened the evening with a 2-1 victory over Brockson’s team-mate Linda Hubbard before having to come from behind to edge out Railway Artists’ Julia Condliffe-Turner by the same scoreline.
In her quarter-final she overcame team-mate and Railway Youngers’ skipper Debbie Braithwaite 2-0 before sealing her place in yet another final with a terrific 2-0 win over current winter league champion Karen Whittaker.
The final was a closely contested affair that saw Gregory take the opener with both players on double-one before a similar second leg also went the way of the reigning champion as she again holed out on double-one with Brockson sat on double-two.
The third leg saw Gregory have chances to clinch the win but she failed to take her opportunities which allowed Brockson to keep the match alive as she landed a double-one of her own. Gregory again had chances to seal victory in the next but once again she was unable to land the decisive double and Brockson checked out on 59 to gain parity and take the match into a decider. Brockson’s hopes of a first singles crown was now in touching distance and with Gregory lying in wait for a shot at 56 the Wheatsheaf skipper held her nerve to hole out on double-nine to complete a terrific fight-back and secure the title 3-2.
In the men’s competition Barnett was handed a tough opening encounter as he was drawn against the reigning winter league champion Neil Ward but he was up to the challenge as he secured a 2-0 win.
Another 2-0 followed as he defeated RHP’s Simon Potter before clinching a place in the last four as he overcame team-mate and Rose & Crown Marauders’ skipper Tom Greenhalgh by the same scoreline.
In his semi-final against former champion and team-mate Simon Cobb he comfortably took the opening leg before Cobb levelled as he snatched the second leg with a 79 checkout.
Despite dropping his first leg of the competition Barnett responded by taking the decider to clinch a place in the final.
His opponent in the final was former champion John Esam who reached the final without dropping a single leg as he overcame Marauders’ duo Stephen Tranter and Tim Tranter before a terrific quarter-final victory over reigning champion Paul Gallacher.
Esam’s place in the final was then secured as he defeated team-mate and Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes’ captain David Thompson.
The final was a tight encounter which saw both players have chances to take the opening leg before Esam took it against the throw as he landed double-five.
The second leg saw Esam score 74 to set up a chance at 57 but the opportunity never came as Barnett holed out on 60 to level the match at 1-1.
The match continued to go against the throw as Barnett failed to land his attempt at 41 in the next which allowed Esam to edge ahead again as he checked out on double-nine.
Esam had chances in the next to seal the win but was unable to land the decisive blow which allowed Barnett to regain parity and take the match into a decider as he holed out on double-four.
The concluding leg of this pulsating match had seen Esam hit 100 to set up a shot at double-11 but he failed to land it which allowed Barnett to chance to seal the victory and he duly obliged as he held his nerve to land double-top to seal a thrilling 3-2 win and clinch his first singles crown.
